International Journal of Physiology

Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access
Open Access Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Restricted Access Subscription Access

Electroencephalographic Pattern and Galvanic Skin Resistance Levels during Short Duration of "aum" Mantra Chanting


Affiliations
1 Professor of Physiology, Saraswati Institute of Medical Sciences, NH-24, Anwarpur, Hapur, Ghaziabad
     

   Subscribe/Renew Journal


Introduction: "AUM" or "Om" is the name or symbol of God which is the combination of three letters, namely, A, U, and M. It is found that previous studies have evaluated only the long term effects of mantra chanting on experienced meditators. There is lacunae in evaluating the immediate effect of short duration of "aum" chanting in untrained subjects which will evaluate the strong potency of "aum" mantra chanting on mind relaxing physiological mechanisms to prevent and counteract the effects of stress related disorders.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the electroencephalographic pattern, galvanic skin resistance levels and heart rate during 5 minutes of "aum" mantra chanting in untrained subjects.

Methodology: The recordings of electroencephalogram, electrocardiogram and values of galvanic skin resistance levels were taken during the control period of rest before "aum" chanting for 5 minutes immediately followed by the test period which was during 5 minutes of "aum" chanting and the recordings continued for 5 minutes after the chanting procedure.

Results: Beta wave electroencephalographic pattern of 18-30 Hz. were recorded before chanting. During 5 minutes of "aum" chanting the subjects showed slow wave electroencephalographic patterns of theta and delta waves suggestive of mental relaxation and simultaneously there was a significant decrease in galvanic skin resistance values and an increase in heart rate (p< 0.05) which are suggestive of activation. Thus it is concluded that there is a combination of physiological relaxation and mental alertness even during short duration of "aum" mantra chanting.


Keywords

“aum” Mantra, Electroencephalogram Patterns, Galvanic Skin Resistance, Meditation
Subscription Login to verify subscription
User
Notifications
Font Size


  • Kumar S, Nagendra HR, Manjunath NK, Naveen KV, Telles S. Meditation on OM: Relevance from ancient texts and contemporary science. Int J Yoga 2010 ; 3:2-5.

  • Telles S, Nagarathna R, Nagendra HR. Autonomic changes during ‘OM’ meditation. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol 1995;39: 418-20.

  • Telles S, Nagarathna R, Nagendra HR, Autonomic changes while mentally repeating two syllables- one meaningful and the other neutral. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol 1998; 42:57-63.

  • Lagopoulos. Increased Theta and Alpha EEG Activity During Nondirective Meditation. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2009; 15 (11): 1187.

  • Bijlani R.L; Understanding medical physiology, 2011; 4th edition: 766-767.

  • Guyton, Hall. Textbook of Medical Physiology, 2012 ; 12, 723-724.

  • Lagopoulos. Increased Theta and Alpha EEG Activity During Nondirective Meditation. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2009; 15 (11): 1187.

  • Gross, Richard E. Psychology: the science of mind and behavior 1992; London: Hodder & Stoughton. pp. 112–113.

  • Mistlberger, R. E., Bergmann, B. M., & Rechtschaffen, A. Relationships among wake episode lengths , and electroencephalographic delta waves in rats with suprachiasmatic nuclei lesions. Sleep; 1987; 10(1), 12-24.

  • Maquet, P., Degueldre, C., Delfiore, G., Aerts, J., Peters, J. M., Luxen, A. Functional neuroanatomy of human slow wave sleep. Journal of Neuroscience; 1997; 17(8), 2807-2812.

  • Lee, J., Kim, D., Shin, H. Lack of delta waves and sleep disturbances during non-rapid eye movement sleep in mice lacking a1g-subunit of T-type calcium channels. PNAS 2002;101(52): 18195- 18199.

  • Hobson, J. , & Pace-Schott, E.The Cognitive Neuroscience of Sleep: Neuronal Systems, Consciousness and Learning. Nature Reviews Neuroscience 2002; 3(9), 679-693.

  • McCormick DA, Pape HC. Noradrenergic and serotonergic modulation of a hyperpolarizationactivated cation current in thalamic relay neurones. J Physiol 1990 ; 431:319-342.

  • Wang XJ. Pacemaker neurons for the theta rhythm and their synchronization in the septohippocampal reciprocal loop. J Neurophysiol 2002; 87 (2): 889–900.

  • Alonso, A; Llinás R. Subthreshold Na+-dependent theta-like rhythmicity in entorhinal cortex layer II stellate cells. Nature 1989; 342 (6246): 175–177.

  • Buzsáki, G. “Theta oscillations in the hippocampus”. Neuron 2002 ; 33 (3): 325–40..

  • Steriade M, Timofeev I. Neuronal plasticity in thalamocortical networks during sleep and waking oscillations. Neuron 2003; 37:563-576.

  • Hyman, JM; Wyble BP, Goyal V, Rossi CA, Hasselmo ME. Stimulation in hippocampal region CA1 in behaving rats yields LTP when delivered to the peak of theta and LTD when delivered to the trough . J Neurosci 2003; 23 (37): 11725–31.

  • Brankack, J; Stewart M, Fox SE. Current source density analysis of the hippocampal theta rhythm: Associated sustained potentials and candidate synaptic generators. Brain Res 1993; 615 (2): 310–327.


Abstract Views: 796

PDF Views: 0




  • Electroencephalographic Pattern and Galvanic Skin Resistance Levels during Short Duration of "aum" Mantra Chanting

Abstract Views: 796  |  PDF Views: 0

Authors

J.L. Agarwal
Professor of Physiology, Saraswati Institute of Medical Sciences, NH-24, Anwarpur, Hapur, Ghaziabad

Abstract


Introduction: "AUM" or "Om" is the name or symbol of God which is the combination of three letters, namely, A, U, and M. It is found that previous studies have evaluated only the long term effects of mantra chanting on experienced meditators. There is lacunae in evaluating the immediate effect of short duration of "aum" chanting in untrained subjects which will evaluate the strong potency of "aum" mantra chanting on mind relaxing physiological mechanisms to prevent and counteract the effects of stress related disorders.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the electroencephalographic pattern, galvanic skin resistance levels and heart rate during 5 minutes of "aum" mantra chanting in untrained subjects.

Methodology: The recordings of electroencephalogram, electrocardiogram and values of galvanic skin resistance levels were taken during the control period of rest before "aum" chanting for 5 minutes immediately followed by the test period which was during 5 minutes of "aum" chanting and the recordings continued for 5 minutes after the chanting procedure.

Results: Beta wave electroencephalographic pattern of 18-30 Hz. were recorded before chanting. During 5 minutes of "aum" chanting the subjects showed slow wave electroencephalographic patterns of theta and delta waves suggestive of mental relaxation and simultaneously there was a significant decrease in galvanic skin resistance values and an increase in heart rate (p< 0.05) which are suggestive of activation. Thus it is concluded that there is a combination of physiological relaxation and mental alertness even during short duration of "aum" mantra chanting.


Keywords


“aum” Mantra, Electroencephalogram Patterns, Galvanic Skin Resistance, Meditation

References